Domestic appliance



Nov. 6, 1956 w. SMITH, JR 2,769,327

DOMESTlC APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 20. 1952 INVENTOR. William Smith Jr.

the alternate cold water fill periods.

United States Patent 2,769,327 DOMESTIC APPLIANCE William Smith, Jr., Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporahon of Delaware Application September 20, 1952, Serial No.,310,716 Claims. (Cl. 68-12) the flow rate of the supply of hot and cold water that there is provided a suitable mixed water solution at a satisfactory temperature.

'It is another object of my invention to provide a washing machine with a control arrangement which will alternately provide a hot and cold water supply at a substantially constant rate for measured periods of time to, provide a suitable mixed water solution at a satisfactory temperature. A i

These objects are attained in the form of anautomatic washer shown by providing a hot water solenoid supply valve and a cold water solenoid supply valve both of which discharge into a manifold having a constant flow device'at its outlet so that the water fiowv is kept substantially constant. An electrically driven rotatable timer is and the'solenoids 46 and is controlled by a timing provided having cam arrangements which during certain periods alternately energize the hot and cold water solenoid valves in the correct proportion to deliver mixed water to the clothes washing receptacle at the proper temperature. The initial fill period is provided upon two floating cams connected together, one of which provides the hot water fill periods and the other of which provides A double throw switch is provided connecting the cam operated cold water switch to the hot water solenoid valve so that all hot Water may be provided during the 7 initial fill period whenever desired when cotton clothes are being washed. The remaining fill periods are provided upon two fixed cams one of which provides hot water fill periods and the other of whichprovides alternate cold water periods. By this simple arrangement, instead of using a thermostat for controlling the mixing, the proper proportions are obtained by-a timed alternate opening of the hot and cold water supply valves to attain the proper proportion of hot and cold water under the control of the constant flow device. I

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is clearly' shown.

In the drawing, the figure is a diagrammatic representation of an automatic clothes washing machine including a timing device embodying one form of my invention.

The washing machine structure Referring now to the drawing, there is shown somewhat diagrammatically one example of a clothes washing 2,769,327 Patented Nov. 6, 1956 machine 20 to which my invention may be applied including an outer cabinet shell 22 enclosing in its upper portion a clothes washing receptacle 24 in the form of a flared tub. Within the receptacle 24 is an agitating means 26. In the bottom of the shell 22 is an electric motor 28 which is connected through the transmission 30 'with the agitator 26 and the tub 24. The transmission 30 is controlled by a spin solenoid 32 which connects the tub 24 to the motor 28 so that the washing solution can be centrifuged out of the receptacle 24 into the catch basin 34 from which it is drained by the hose 3,6 connecting to a pump 38. This pump 38 is connected-to the bottom of the motor 28 and pumps the water into a discharge conduit 40 connecting with a drain or other place of water disposal. The deenergization of the spin solenoid 32 connects the motor 28 through the transmission 30 with the agitating means 26.

The water supply According to my invention, there is provided a hot water supply connection 42 and a cold water supply connection 44. The hot water supply connection 42 is provided with a solenoid valve 46 which opens when energized to allow hot water to flow into the manifold 48. The coldwate'r supply connection 44 is provided with a cold water solenoid valve 50 which when energized con- "to a resilient spout 56 which discharges the liquid ,into the receptacle 24. 35

v The constant flow device 52 insures that for equal times there will be the same total amount of hot and cold water in the receptacle 24 with substantially the same proportions.

- The timing means The operation of the motor 28, the spin solenoid 32 means which includes a timing motor 60 having a driving pinion 62 adapted to engage the drive gear 64 and a sector The drive gear '64 is fixed to a drive shaft 68 having a fixed thereon the earns 70, 72 and74. The

' sector gear 66 is connected by the spring 76 with a pin 78 provided upon the cam '70. The sector gear 66 is also connected by a sleeve 80 with a cam 82. This cam 82 is connected by a pin 84 with a cam 86. The cam 86 and pin 84, the cam 82, the sleeve 80 and the sector gear 66 are all'rotatably mounted upon the drive shaft 68. They are, however, limited in their movement relative to the movement of the drive'shaft 68 by the pin 84 which is adapted to engage the shoulders 88 and 90 at the opposite ends of a notch provided in the cam 70. The spring 76 normally tends to hold the pin 84 in engagement with the shoulder 88.

-The floating arrangement of the cams 82 and 86 is for'the purpose of making it possible to set the washing period at the start of any washing cycle without changing the time period of the initial fill or any subsequent washing operations. If this very convenient feature is not desired,,then the timing device can be greatly simplified. The dial 92 is connected to the front end of the shaft 68. It is provided with legends and marks indicating washin periods varying from 2 to 10 minutes.

the cams thereon rearward and disengages the sector gear 66 from the drive pinion 62. It also moves the rear end period, it is pulled out.

of the pin 84 rearwardly so that its path of movement engages a substantially 'fixed spring detent 94. It also opens the push-pull switch 96. The dial 92 is then turned to the mark indicating the desired washing period, This causes the fixed cams 70, 72 and 74 to advance in the direction of'rotation indicated by the arrow on the dial while the floatingcams 82 and 86 are prevented from rotating by the detent 94. The detent 94 also holds the sector gear 66 from rotating.

After-the setting of the knob 92 to the desired washing This closes the switch 96 and moves the sector gear 66 into engagement with the drive pinion 62 and also moves the rear end of the pin 84 away from the detent 94. This action also for that particular cycle fixes the relationship between the floating earns 82 and 86 with respect to the drive shaft 68 and the cams 70, 72 and 74 which are fixed thereon.

The turning of the knob 92 to one of the marks indicating the desired washing period also causes the cam 74 to close the off switch 121 The cam 74 has a raised portion 123 which engages the follower of the switch 121 to open it during the oti period at the end of each complete washing cycle as indicated by the otf legend upon the dial 92. The closing of the switch 121 causes the .electric energy to flow from the supplyconductor 125 through the switches 96 and 12 1 and the conductor 127 to the one terminal of the timing motor 60. To simplify the wiring and to prevent confusion becauseof the many conductors, all the return conductors are omitted. All ,of these return conductors which are not shown connect directly to the other supply conductor which is likewise not shown. This omission includes the return conductors for the timing motor 60, the solenoids 46 and 50, the spin solenoid 32 and the driving motor 28, all of which connect directly to the second supply conductor.

The floating cam 82 operates the double throw switch 129 through its cam follower. After the setting of the knob 92 is completed, the earns 82 and 70 operate as a single cam upon the cam follower of the switch 129. The

switch 129 has three positions. When the cams 82 and 70 are most deeply cut, the switch 129 is in contact with the stationary contact 131 which is connected by the conductor 133 with the hot water solenoid valve 46. When the periphery of the cams 82 and 70 is at an intermediate distance from its axis, the switch 129 is moved to an intermediate position between and out of contact with the two stationary contacts 131 and 135. When the periphery of these cams 82 and 70 is at the greatest distance from their axis, the switch 129 is moved into contact with the stationary contact 135 which is connected by the conductor 137 driving motor 28.

The First Fill The cam 82 as well as the cam 86 always begin a complete cycle of the washing machine in the position shown in the drawing because it is always located in this position by the detent 94. The first portion 139 of the cam 82 is provided with a series of notches and teeth in which the bottoms of the notches are sufliciently low to cause the switch 129 to be moved into engagement with the contact 131 to energize the valve 46, while the tops of the teeth between the notches are sutficiently high to move the switch 129 to the intermediate or neutral position intermediate between the contacts 131 and 135. In the particular example, these notches and teeth are arranged on the cam 82 with such width that alternate half minute periods of energization and deenergization of the valve 46 are provided for a sufficient period to supply the amount of hot water needed in the receptacle 24 for a mixed water fill.

The cam 86 has a notched and toothed portion 141 of substantially the same total length as the notched and toothed portion 139. It cooperates with the cam follower of the switch 143 which cooperates with a single stationary contact 145. When the cam follower of the switch 143 engages one of the teeth of the peripheral portion 141, it will be moved to closed position in engagement with the contact 145. The peripheral portions 139 and 141 are arranged so that the contacts 131 and 145 are alternatively engaged by their respective switches 129 and 143. As shown in the drawing, each of these alternate engagements is equal and corresponds to /2 minute in the rotation of the timer 60 and the knob 92. However, these can be arranged in any proportion desired. For example, the hot water contact 131 may be engaged 60% of the fill time while the contact 145 may be engaged of the filling time. This may be accomplished by making the length or number of the notches and the teeth of the peripheral portion 139 in the proportion of 60 to 40, and by making the length or number of the notches and the teeth of the peripheral portion 141 likewise in the proportion of 60 to 40.

The hot and mixed water selection The switch contact 145 is connected by the conductor 147 to the hot and mixed water selector switch 149. The selector switch 149 is shown in one of its alternative positions in engagement with a stationary contact 151 which is connected by the conductor 153 to the conductor 133 which connects to the hot Water solenoid 46. The selector switch is moved into this position when an initial fill entirely of hot water is desired for the receptacle 24. Such a setting is generally used for white cotton clothes. In this setting, the contacts 131 and 145 are alternately engaged but in either engagement, the hot water solenoid 46 is energized so that only hot water flows to the receptacle 24. However, the same total quantity of water is supplied to the receptacle 24.

When it is desired to fill the receptacle 24 with a mixture of hot and cold water, the selector switch 149 is moved to its dotted line position in engagement with the stationary contact 155. This stationary contact 155 connects with a conductor 157 which in turn connects to the cold water solenoid .valve 50. Thus when the selector switch 149 is in its dotted line position engaging the contact 155 the cold water solenoid is energized whenever the contact 145 is engaged. This engagement of the contact 145 will take place between every two engagements of the contact 131. Therefore, the engaging of these contacts alternately will cause the solenoid valves 46 and 50 alternately to open and to alternately supply hot and cold water through the pipe 54 and the flexible nozzle 56 to the receptacle 24 for a sufficient time to supply the proper quantity of water to the receptacle with the proper proportions of hot and cold water. The constant flow discharge device 52 controls the rate of flow through each of the valves 46 and 50 when they are alternately 7 opened so that the rate of flow is substantially constant regardless of any variations in the pressure of the water supply in either of the water supply connections 42 or 44. This insures that the proportion of hot and cold water, as well as the total amount of water, will be substantially in the exact proportion as is provided by the peripheral cam portions 139 and 141.

The alternate closing of the hot and cold water contacts and the alternate energization of the hot and cold water solenoid valves makes it possible to use a simple selective double throw switch 149 to obtain either hot water or mixed hot and cold water without any change in the total volume and with the use of only a single constant flow discharge device 52. The frequency of the alternations may be varied and either the hot or the cold water may be first supplied.

The first agitation period After the timer has operated a sufficient length of time to provide the proper water supply for the receptacle 24, and the cam followers of the switches 129 and 143 have traversed the full length of the cam portions 139 1 a d ;1 41, the drive pin on awn reach the am the *sector gear-'66and the camfollower of the switch 129 agitator 26 in order to agitate the clothes and the washing solution in the receptacle 24. The clothes, and whatever detergent is'desired, are, of course, placed in the V receptacle 24 before setting the dial 92.

'The cam follower of the switch 129 rides on top of I the cam projection 159 during the agitation period. Since the drive pinion 62 is no longer in positive engagement with the. sector gear 66, the floating cams 82 and 86 are ,1 now without a' positive drive and stop rotating, and the cam follower'of the switch 129 continues to rest on the projection 159du'r'i'ng the greater portion of the. period of energization of the motor 28.

The fixed cams 70, 72 and 74 continue theirrotation and the cam projection 161 moves 'toward and finally I moves along side the projection 159. When the pin 84 is engaged by the-shoulder 90 upon the cam 70 the float- I ing carns 82 and 86 will now be carried with the fixed cams 70, 72 andv 74.,

The first spin period :At an angle of rotation equivalent to 1% minutes prior to .the deenergization of the motor 28, the fixed cam 72 is provided with a notch 163 into which'falls the cam 1 follower of] the switch 165. When this takes place the switch 165 makes eontact with the stationary contact -;167 connected by the conductor 169 with the spin sole- 11'0idj32 WhiCh declutche's the transmission 30 and the.

contents of the receptacle 24 are centrifuged. over the upper edges of the receptacle 24 and into the catch basin 34 from which the liquid contents" are carried by the conduit 36 to the pump 38 which pumps the liquid contentsthrough the conduit. 40 .to a suitable drain- In this wa theliquid contents are removedfrom the clothes 'in'the receptacle 24.

The seeondfill a When the-camfollower of the 'switch 165 reaches litheend of thenotch'153, the-cam follower of the switch .leaves the-'toothedprojections 159 and 161 and be- ;EZgins-traversingthe toothed cam portion 171-upon the fixe d cam '70. At the same time, the cam follower of the, switch 165 begins traversing the notched camportion. 173 upon the cam'72. 1 These cam portions 171 and 3 .173-are arranged 'so thatthe switches 129 and 165 alter- -'.nately-make engagement with' their respective contacts -Bland 175. The stationary'contact 175 is connected theconductors 177 and 157 to the cold water sole- ,--:noid valve- 50; Therefore, while the cam portions 171 and '173 are-in engagement with the cam switches'129 and 165- the valves 46am 50 are'alternately opened to alternatelysupply hot and coldwater through the pipe '54' arid the-nozzle 56 to the receptacle 24 to supply the receptacle with a mixture of hot and cold water in the proper proportions and'the proper amount for providing a 'first rinse forthe clothes in the receptacle 24.

-The seeondqgitationhnd spin periods V When this is accomplished, the cam followers of the switches 129and165 will have reached the ends of the cam portions '171a'n'cl 173. The carn'follower of the switch 129 will theii rise u p upon the cam projection 181 ;.which will throw it into engagement with the stationary -contact .135. to energize, themotora28. The cam fol- "l'owei fof' the switch 165 .will ride'upon a projection 183 whichlwill keep it in the neutral position, out of contact with both of its stationary contacts 167 and 175. Since the spin solenoid 32 is deenergized, the motor 28 will operate through the transmission 30 to operate the agitator to agitate the liquid contents and the clothes in the receptacle 24 for the first rinsing period. This will continue until the cam follower of the switch 165 drops into the notch 185 and causes the switch 165 to engage the contact 167 to energize the spin solenoid 32. This will cause motor 28 to spin the receptacle 24 remove the liquid contents from the receptacle and the clothes to terminate the first rinse.

The third fill When the cam follower of the switch 129 reaches the end of the projection 181 it will traverse notched portion 187 of the cam while the cam follower of the switch will traverse the notched portion 189 upon the fixed cam 72. These cam portions 187 and 189 will cause the switches 129 and 165 to alternatively engage their stationary contacts 131 and to alternatively energize the hot and cold water solenoid valves 46 and 50 to supply hot and cold water to thereceptacle 24 in the proper proportions and the proper total amount to provide suflicient liquid to the receptacle 24 for the second rinsing of the clothes therein.

The third agitation period Following this, the cam followers of the switch 129 will traverse the projection 191 upon the cam 70 while the cam follower of the switch 165 will traverse the projection 193 upon the cam 72 which will hold it in a neutral .position out of contact with the contacts 167 and 175. The engagement of the cam follower of the switch 129 by the projection 191 will move it into engagement with the stationary switch contact 135 which will cause the motor 28 to be energized. Since the spin solenoid 32 is deenergized, the motor 28 through the transmission 30 will operate the agitator to agitate the I clothes and the liquid contents of the receptacle 24 for the second rinse period.

The final spin and dry period ceptacle 24 to remove the liquid contents therefrom. This latch notch 195 is made sufiiciently long to cause the clothes to become quite dry. At the end of this period the cam follower of the switch 121 will be engaged by the projection 123 to open the switch 121 and stop the operation of the motor 28 and the timer 60 to complete the washing cycle.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A washing machine including a clothes washing receptacle, a hot water supply and a cold water supply for said clothes washing receptacle, agitating means for agiand having means for operating said agitating means during a period of time.

2. A washing machine including a clothes washing receptacle,. a hot water supply and a cold water supply for said clothes washing receptacle, agitating means for agitating the contents of said receptacle, a timing means having means for alternately openingsaid cold and hot water supplies during one continuous timed filling period and having means for operating said agitating means during a period of time, and a rate of flow controlling device connected in series with said cold and hot water supplies to maintain the fills substantially in the amount and proportion determined by the timing means.

3. A washing machine including a clothes washing receptacle, a hotwater supply and a cold water supply for said receptacle, electrically operated agitating means for agitating the contents of said receptacle, an electrically perated hot water valve for controlling the hot water supply into the receptacle, an electrically operated cold water valve for controlling the cold water supply into the receptacle, a timing switch means having alternately operating switch means for alternately energizing said hot and cold water valves for a total continuous measured period of time suflicient to supply an adequate amount of liquid to said receptacle and having switch means for energizing said agitating means for a measured period of time.

4. A washing machine including a clothes washing receptacle, a hot water supply and a cold water supply for said receptacle, electrically operated agitating means for agitating the contents of said receptacle, an electrically operated hot water valve for controlling the hot water supply into the receptacle, an electrically operated cold water valve for controlling the cold water supply into the receptacle, a timing switch mean having alternately operating switch means for alternately energizing said hot and cold water valves for a total continuous measured period of time sufiicient to supply an adequate amount of liquid to said receptacle and having switch means for energizing said agitating means for a measured period of time, and a selective switch means for connecting and disconnecting the particular part of the switch means for said cold water valve to the hot water valve.

5. A washing machine including a clothes washing receptacle, a hot water supply and a cold water supply for said receptacle, agitating means for agitating the contents of the receptacle, a timing means including a first cam means, a floating cam means having a lost motion con nection with said first cam means, said floating cam means having means for alternately opening both said hot and cold water supply for different measured periods of times, said floating cam means also having means for operating said agitating means, said first cam means also having means for opening both said hot and cold water supply for diiferent measured periods of times.

6. A washing machine including a clothes washing receptacle, a hot water supply and a cold water supply for said clothes washing receptacle, agitating means for agitating the contents of said receptacle, a timing means having means for alternately opening said cold and hot water supplies for measured periods of time during one filling period and having means for operating said agitating means during a period of time, a common outlet and delivery means from said hot and cold water supply to said receptacle, and a single common flow control means in said common outlet for making substantially constant the flow of water from both said hot and cold water supplies to said receptacle.

7. A washing machine including a clothes washing receptacle, a hot water supply and a cold water supply for said receptacle, electrically operated agitating means for agitating the contents of said receptacle, an electrically operated hot water valve for controlling the hot water supply into the receptacle, an electrically operated cold water valve for controlling the cold water supply into the receptacle, a timing switch means having alternately operating switch means with a first contact connected electrically to said hot water valve and an alternate contact connected electrically to said cold water valve for alternately energizing said hot and cold water valves for a total continuously measured period of time sufiicient to supply an adequate amount of liquid to said receptacle, and an additional electrical conductor and switch means disconnecting one of said. contacts from the valve to which it is normally connected and connecting electrically said one contact to the valve to which it isnot normally connected. 7 V I A. w shi g ma hin incl g a loth s a i g receptacle, a hot water supply and a cold water supply for said receptacle, electrically operated, agitating means for agitating the contents of said receptacleyan .electrically operated hot water valve for controlling the hot water supply into the receptacle, an electrically operated cold water valve for controlling the cold water supply into the receptacle, a timing switch means having alter- =nately operating switch means with .a first contact connected electrically-to said hot water valve and an alternate contact connected electrically to said cold water valve for alternately energizing said hot and cold water valves for a total continuously measured' period of time sufficient to supply an adequate amount of liquid to said receptacle, and an additional electrical conductor. and switch means disconnecting said alternate, contact from said cold water valve and connecting electrically said alternate con-tact to said hot water valve.

9. A washing machine including a clothes washing receptacle, a hot water supply and an electrically operated "hot water valve connected to said hot water supply, a cold water supply and an electrically operated cold water valve connected to said cold water supply, a common outlet for said hot and cold watervalves conveying the water to said receptacle, a substantially constant flow means in said common outlet for insuring a substantially constant rate of how into said receptacle, electrically operated agitating means for agitating theYcontents of said receptacle, and a timing control means having alternately operating switch means provided with a first contact and conductor connected electrically to said cold water valve and a second contact and conductor conneoted electrically to said hot water valve for alternately energizing said cold and hot water valves for a total continuous measured period of time suflicient to Supply an adequate amount of liquid to saidjreceptaclc and also having switch means for energizing said agitating means for a measured period of time. 7

10. A washing machine including a clothes washing receptacle, a hot water supply'and an electricalllyoperated hot water valve connected to said hot water supply, a cold water supply and an electrically operated cold water valve connected to said cold water supply, a common outlet for said hot. and cold water valves conveying the water to said receptacle, a substantially constant'flow means in said common outlet for insuring'a substantially constant rate of flow into said receptacle, electrically Operated agitating means for agitating the contents of said receptacle, and a timingcontrol means having alternately operating switch means provided with a first contact and conductor connected clectl'icallyto said, cold water valve and a second contact and, conductorconnected electrically to said hot Wa l-er valve for alternately energizing said cold and hot water valves for a total continuous measured period of time sulfioient to supply an adequate amount of liquid to receptacle andallso having switch means for energizing said agitating means for a measured period .of time, .=a double throw switch means having a movablecontact stationary contacts, a conductor connecting one oi thecontacts of'saidalten,

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITE I I S PATE T 2,486,668 Miller 1 Nov.- 1', !1949 2,503,901 chm Apr. 111, 1950 2,549,025 Sisson Apr. '10, :1951 

